John couldn’t help but shudder at life’s cruelty . He played all his failures in his head till then and felt his decision was right .His mother’s frail image kept on appearing in his mind but he didn’t have courage to face her .

He knew she would know the truth soon and her opinion about him would crumble .He didn’t want to experience anymore shame especially from his Mom. He would rather die ten thousand times then be called as a looser from his Mom.

Due heavy rain people dispersed from the beach. Pitch black cloud seemed like a black omen , roaring thunder seemed like laughter from people around him , raging waves seemed like invitation for new life and heavy rain seemed like sympathizing at John’s misery.

He took a deep breath and inhaled salty, fishy smell. He removed his slippers to experience the feeling of one with the heaven and Earth for the last time in his life.

‘I can’t believe my life would end before it has barely begun.’ He let out a self depreciated laugh. He looked at the clouds producing lightning and thunder ,tears he withheld for so long finally spilled like rushing water from a broken dam. He clenched his fists and roared like a beast as if screaming to the God that it was unfair .

Entire whether seemed chaotic and sea waves looked frighteningly huge . His heart shuddered just by looking at the waves. He steeled his heart and walked towards the waves. Quickly his lower body was submerged in sea water.

He said to himself that in case there would be any next life he should live a honest life . His thoughts drifted back to his Mom as he was slowly submerging in the waves. He couldn’t help but blame himself for being a unfilial son, ‘She deserves a better a son than me .Who is not a cheater, liar and a scumbag.’

He remembered an incident when his late father thrashing his Mom .She would cry and often ask “Son ,when you become a big officer .Will you remember your poor Mom?” John didn’t know what she meant at that age so he would hug her and say “Yes Mom I would remember you don’t worry.”

‘Mom although I didn’t become an officer .I love you with all my heart. This poor son is only capable of giving you this much in this lifetime. If there is a chance in next life I will it make up to you hundred fold …no thousand fold.’ As he said to himself water was already reached his nose, he prepared to close his eyes and let go of everything….

But suddenly he felt something hit his back. He turned while floating and saw a strange water bottle made of some kind of glass. There was something inside the bottle. He became curious all of a sudden . Many years later he would replay this exact moment and sigh in relief ‘My curiosity saved me that day.’

He tried opening the bottle in the middle of the water but couldn’t .So ,he slowly came to the shore and opened the cap before finding a shelter to take a cover from rain. ‘What is this ?…..A scroll!’ . The condition of the scroll was very bad probably because of how old it was. He carefully unfolded and saw in bold letter.

HELLO LUCKY ONE , FINALLY SOMEONE OPENED IT I GUESS. BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER LET ME WARN YOU, DON’T READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DIE .

John didn’t know whether to laugh or cry .He was already in the middle of dying .What is the point of this warning?

SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE MADE YOUR DECISION .THERE IS A SMALL MICROCHIP INSIDE THE BOTTLE .SWALLOW IT , YOU DIDN’T READ IT WRONG .SWALOOW IT AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER. DON’T WORRY, IT WON’T HARM YOU.IT WILL INTEGRATE TO YOUR BRAIN AND BECOME PART OF YOU.

IF YOU ARE RELUCTANT OR SUSPICIOUS ,I CAN’T HELP YOU.BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW ONE THING THAT IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISINTEGRATE WITHIN 5 MINUITES . LIFE IS SHORT…. A LEAP OF FAITH IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO CHANGE YOUR DESTINY.

The scroll disintegrated as John read the final line. He stood there and observed the small pieces of scroll travel in the air disappearing in the vast sea. He looked inside the bottle and found a small microchip as mentioned in the scroll. He held it in his hand observed it for a few seconds.

‘This looks similar to an ordinary microchip. How can it change my life? Don’t I die from internal organs damage if I swallow it?’ He looked at the dark clouds and remembered the words in the scroll. ‘TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH TO CHANGE YOUR DESTINY.’

He couldn’t help but smile at the prank. He almost believed the nonsense. How can the world suddenly change its mind? He knew how badly the world hated him .He considered himself the most unluckiest guy ever.

He decided to throw the microchip and continue his journey to the nether world . But a part of him didn’t want to loose the last hope. So he swallowed it without any further thinking.

‘Any way I am about to die .It doesn’t matter if my internal organs are healthy or damaged.’ He closed his eyes and tried to feel any changes in his body. But he didn’t feel anything. He cursed at his foolishness ‘John you are too naïve for your own good.’

Suddenly thunder roared as if mocking John’s idiocy .He couldn’t control anymore and showed middle finger to the clouds and roared ‘Stupid God let me die in peace .Don’t I deserve at least that much ?’

[System initiating …….10% 20%……….100%.Welcome user my name is Eva .I am your assistant]

John was scared shitless and tripped on the sand . He looked around in puzzle “Who are you ? come out”

John didn’t get any answer .He remembered hearing a name Eva .So he called “Eva” slowly.

[Yes, how can I help you?]

John jumped like a scared cat. He still couldn’t see anyone within 100m “Eva where are you?”

[I am inside your head]

John took a long while to process her words. He finally understood that the voice is originating from the microchip he just swallowed. He asked slowly “What is the system you were talking about?”

[This microchip has an in built artificial intelligence that can guide its user to achieve great things. Creator of the microchip has left a note .Let me send it to your consciousness]

[Hello lucky one .Seems like you truly believed in my words. I am very happy to pass my legacy. This system is designed by me .It contains my insights into my life .I could have written a book and get it over with but I know it would eventually rot inside a library .

So I decided to create a system that can guide a person step by step. It incorporates suitable rewards and punishments to navigate your life. I have encoded the system with 8 levels .Every level is fundamental. Let me state some risks.

You should not tell anyone about this system otherwise you will become a lab rat. Once Eva sense it ,she will self destruct and your brain will explode. There is no turning back now .If you try to remove the chip using surgery .Eva will self destruct. Punishment to not to level up in time or unable to complete missions may lead to self destruction of Eva. You are my only successor ,hence it will attract enemies till you die or become powerful.

With great risks comes great reward. Lets talk about the benefits of the system.

Your destiny has changed the moment you swallowed this microchip. You will soon hear about realm gate ,Devata realm and your destiny in my clan. For the time being concentrate on leveling up, eventually you will know everything from Eva. Human Values are foundation to this system. You will see yourself getting better and better in terms of your character as you progress with the system. System will issue missions from time to time .If you complete it ,in time ,you will be rewarded.

Good luck ]

John didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He couldn’t believe how his life took 180 degree turn all of sudden. In one day he thought he travelled from hell to heaven multiple times. He had no idea about the origins and creator of the microchip or their purpose but one thing he knew for sure was it was a God sent golden opportunity.